# Bill Gross gives away 1M startup ideas free

_Bill Gross launched Idealab.ai with 1M free ideas and a plan to license the system to big firms._

**Published:** 2026-11-12
**Source:** https://www.startuphub.ai/ai-news/artificial-intelligence/2026/bill-gross-gives-away-1m-startup-ideas-free

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Bill Gross put more than 1 million startup ideas online for free, he said.

Gross told [Pioneers of AI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA4x_EcsptU) his Idealab.ai database turns 30 years of building companies into searchable ideas. Gross said he coded 31 idea patterns into AI and set it to read news, patents and problem statements. [Masters of Scale](https://mastersofscale.com/lessons-from-launching-175-start-ups/) reports the catalog now holds more than 1.2 million ideas and names [Cloudflare](https://www.startuphub.ai/startups/cloudflare) and ASU as partners.

Gross, IdeaLab founder who started the studio in 1996, said "I'm terrified of no boundaries on AI." Gross puts his own tally at 175 launches with more than 50 IPOs and acquisitions. He said agents scare him when let loose, but he wants more work on the positive side.

  
    

![He’s launched 175 companies. Now his AI is giving away a million startup ideas for free (Bill Gross) - Pioneers of AI](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mA4x_EcsptU/maxresdefault.jpg)

    
      
        
      
    
  
  He’s launched 175 companies. Now his AI is giving away a million startup ideas for free (Bill Gross), Pioneers of AI

Gross said one AI idea locks in gas prices for a $5 monthly fee. Gross said the system spotted worry from more than 100 million people in China, the US and Europe and paired it with airline style hedging on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gross said the team cut 200,000 risky ideas and kept nonprofit ideas at about 10% of the base.

Colleges have to change the curriculum first. Gross said ASU could admit students by idea, pay them to attend and add startup capital. Gross said founders can filter by skill, budget under $50,000 or team size from solo to two to five. Gross said large companies must license the full system built on their own IP to fund the free pool.

Publishers face the next test. Gross said his PRA network counts 1,600 publications backing a 50-50 revenue share for AI answers. He expects AI labs to deal within the next year once lawsuits, press pressure and public listings force payment.

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Original analysis from [startuphub.ai](https://www.startuphub.ai), the #1 AI startup directory.

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